The Most Expensive Artworks That Celebrities Own

TrendingJuly 4, 2022

Tobey Maguire – “Tincture” by Mark Rylen ($42.5K)

One of the stars of the 2022 TV series “Extrapolations,” the “Spider-Man” actor Tobey Maguire is known for being a savvy real estate investor and a prolific amateur poker player. But Maguire’s hobbies also include betting on the art market, as reported by the website Widewalls.

Maguire’s art acquisitions have been pretty discreet, but the Santa Monica, California native is said to be a big fan of the Japanese artist Kaz Oshiro. Additionally, he once splashed $42.5K in “Tincture,” a painting by the obscure artist Mark Rilen, bought during MOCA’s annual FRESH silent auction.

Lady Gaga – Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Jacket ($240K)

In 2022, the American singer/actress Lady Gaga announced the return of her ‘Jazz & Piano’ Las Vegas residence. Reported to be a fan of artists such as Francesco Vezzoli and Leigh Bowery, the “Bad Romance” singer likes to spend her money on more than just high-end artworks. After all, she once bought a diamond-encrusted iPad and a $50K ghost detector machine!

But guess what? As a bonafide fan of the late Michael Jackson, Gaga invested several hundred thousand dollars in a $5-million collector’s auction dedicated to the King of Pop. She reportedly bought Jackson’s iconic jacket from the “Bad” album tour for a whopping $240K.

Rainn Wilson – Works by Robert Wilson & Others (Undisclosed)

Featured in 2022’s “Dark Winds,” the American actor Rainn Wilson is best known for portraying the goofball character of ‘Dwight’ in “The Office.” But did you know that Rainn is the son of the American painter Robert Wilson? In an Architectural Digest video, he proudly exhibited one of the last pieces ever made by his father.

In the video, Rainn and his wife—writer Holiday Reinhorn—also exhibited a few items of their vast Asian art collection, as well as a couple of paintings made by contemporary artists. Rainn even shared an anecdote about an edgy Joe Sola painting titled “Me’n Kippenberger.”

Barbra Streisand – “Peasant Woman with Child on her Lap” by Vincent van Gogh ($4.5 Million)

With over 110 singles released over the years, the American singer/actress Barbra Streisand has got to be one of the most prolific music artists in the country. Always relevant, she saw her song “Gotta Move” featured in Bud Light’s 2022 Super Bowl commercial and probably added a few bucks to her impressive $400-million net worth. But what’s she doing with her fortune?

According to The Art Newspaper, Streisand splashed a cool $4.5 million in “Peasant Woman with Child on her Lap,” a painting by the iconic Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. She reportedly started her vast art collection by buying a piece by the French expressionist Henri Mattisse.

Tobey Maguire – “Tincture” by Mark Rylen ($42.5K)

Lucy Liu – “Except Sometimes II” by Lucy Liu ($10K)

Featured in Netflix’s end-of-year comedy “Death to 2021,” the American actress Lucy Liu is perhaps best known for her appearances in the “Charlie’s Angels” movies and TV series such as “Elementar” and “Why Women Kill.” But did you know that this New York City native has also been a skilled artist since 1993?

She had the chance to exhibit her original paintings at the National Museum of Singapore, and there were a few standout pieces in there. Getting your hands on a Liu original, however, may be harder than it seems: her painting “Except Sometimes II,” for instance, is listed at an impressive $10K.

John McEnroe – “Helter Skelter I” by Mark Bradford ($10.4 Million)

Featured in 2022 episodes of the TV series “Never Have I Never,” John McEnroe is a legendary former tennis player and occasional actor. This West Germany native also loves to play in the art market, and he never shies away from turning a hefty profit—even if he does so with an artwork inspired by the infamous serial killer Charles Manson.

In 2007, McEnroe bought Mark Bradford’s Manson-inspired “Helter Skelter I” for an undisclosed amount, only to sell it for an astounding $10.5 million at a 2018 Phillips auction in London. The painting is 34-foot-wide and makes for an expressionist masterpiece in the line of Jackson Pollock.

Neil Patrick Harris – Gideon Rubin Painting ($28K)

Starring in the 2022 comedy “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” actor Neil Patrick Harris is said to be an avid art collector. Harris and his partner David Burtka own artworks by people as renowned as Ahmed Alsoudani, Ed Ruscha, or Kehinde Wiley. But their favorite artist has got to be the contemporary Israeli painter Gideon Rubin.

How much do they like Rubin, you wonder? Well, for one, they named their son after him! Needless to say, they have at least one Rubin painting back home. While the name and price of the artwork were never disclosed, Rubin’s best pieces sell for approximately $28K each.

Sir Elton John – “Glass Tears” by Man Ray ($166K)

He may have mispronounced the name of the city he was playing at during his 2022 Kansas City T-Mobile Center center, but all is forgiven when you’re the one-and-only Sir Elton John! In addition to being one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the 20th century, the “Tiny Dancer” singer is also an avid collector of high-end art, with a particular taste for modernist photography.

John’s extensive collection was even featured at Tate Modern, in an exhibition titled “The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John.” His most precious piece? Man Ray’s “Glass Tears,” which he bought for roughly $166K at a 1993 Sotheby’s auction.

Madonna – “Buste de Femme á la Frange” by Pablo Picasso ($5 Million)

In 2022, the pop superstar Madonna made the news after publishing a revealing picture of herself on Instagram. It goes to show that the “Material Girl” singer is still pushing the envelope, and the same can be said of her outstanding art collection. According to The Talko, she invested about $100 million in high-end art over the years!

Madonna’s impressive collection includes artworks by some of the most renowned artists of the 20th century, including the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and the legendary Jean-Michel Basquiat. The pièce de resistánce, however, is Pablo Picasso’s “Buste de Femme á la Frange,” which she bought for $5 million at an art auction.